Improvement in hoops for skirts



UNITED STATES JUDAH LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOQPS FOR SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,651, dated October 9, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UDAII LEVY, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Hooped Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a skirt each hoop of which consists of two light wires clasped together so as to be in rigid contact with each other at intervals, so that while the skirt possesses rigidity enough to maintain the dress in the desired distended condition, it possesses such general elasticity as to readily yield to any external pressure and instantly recover its proper form on the removal of that pressure.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved hooped skirt; Figs. 2 and 3, views of part of one of the hoops drawn to an enlarged scale.

Instead of making the hoops of the skirt of one strong wire made in the form of a ring, or of two wires bound together by or inclosed within a fabric, so as to become essentially one entire ring, I make each hoop of two properly-covered but very light wires, A and B, rigidly connected together at intervals by the usual fastenings, so that when the skirt is subjected to any external pressure the two wires may yield and separate from each other at all other points, excepting where a fastening occurs, as shown in Fig. 3. The skirt is thus permitted to yield and readily accommodate itself to any external pressure.

As seen in Fig. 1, the two wires of each hoop E are rigidly connected together at the points a, b, c, and (Z at one side of the skirt, and at corresponding points at the opposite side of the skirt, the wires between the points of connection being at liberty to yield independently of each other. The skirt is consequently more elastic throughout, and while the hoops are sufficiently rigid to distend the dress, they will more readily yield on the application of external pressure, and as readily resume their proper shape and functions when the pressure is removed.

I am aware that two or more hoops in skirts have been placed in proximity to each other and connected together at intervals; but these connections have heretofore been yielding, so that the several hoops could move at the point of connection independently of each other--a feature which myinvention has been designed to avoid.

I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A skirt each hoop of which consists of two light wires rigidly clasped together at inter vals, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J UDAH LEVY.

Witnesses:

O. 13. PRICE,- JoI-IN WHITE. 

